Venetian blind construction



June 17, 1958 s. M. REICHEL 2,839,135

VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1957 INVENTOR United dtates Patent VENETEAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Samuel M. Reichel, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 14, 1957, Serial No. 659,023

4 (Ilaims. or. 160-478) This invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more particularly has reference to a means for tilting to inclined positions any selected slat or slats relative to the remaining slats.

It is often desired that some of the slats or" a Venetian blind be tilted, while other slats remain horizontal to permit passage of light and air through the blind to a maximum extent. This situation may arise, for example, where it is desired to have privacy from outside observation, while blocking the admission of light and air to a minimum extent. Then again, where the rays of the sun enter a room at a certain angle, it may be desired to prevent direct sunlight from entering the room while still admitting air and light in general, and under these circumstances, it may be desired to tilt to a suitable position those slats that are in the direct path of the rays of the sun, at any location between the upper and lower ends of the blind.

The main object of the present invention, in view of the above, is to provide a Venetian blind construction which permits the desired usage while at the same time avoiding prohibitive increase in the cost of manufacture. In this way, it is proposed to permit construction of a Venetian blind formed according to the present invention without departure from accepted manufacturing practices and with all components of the blind being wholly conventional except for a minor modification of the cross tapes.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind construction wherein any single slat, or any selected number of slats, can be tilted relative to the remaining slats with a choice of at least two diiierent angles of tilt for the operator to select, in each direction. Reference may be had to my previous Patent No. 2,794,500 wherein only one angle of tilt is described in each direction.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind construction as described wherein any single slat, or any selected number of slats, can be tilted relative to the remaining slats in any one of at least two diiferent angles in either direction, without the need for increasing the thickness of the cross tapes by means of projections or other similar devices. My previous Patent No. 2,794,500 requires a projection on the upper surface of the cross tape. Any increase in thickness of the cross tapes by projections or similar devices interferes with the complete collapse of the Venetian blind when it is desired to raise the blind completely out of the way.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind construction as described wherein the means for tilting a selected slat or slats relative to the remaining slats is essentially hidden from view, when not in use, and inconspicuous when in use.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind construction as described wherein the mechanism for tilting all the slats conjointly, to the same angle, can still be employed to full advantage whenever simultaneous tilting of all the slats of the blind to said angle is desired, without interference from the means provided in accordance with the present invention for tilting a single slat or slats.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind construction as described wherein the lifting cords can operate with little or no friction against the ends of the transverse closed slots of the slats, even when a selected slat or slats is tilted relative to the remaining slats in accordance with the present invention.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of a Venetian blind formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged and elevational view of said blind, showing selected slats tilted to inclined positions;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the slatsupporting cross tape, showing said tape in association with the vertical tapes of the blind, said vertical tapes being shown fragmentarily and in dotted lines; and

Figure 4 is a modification of the form shown in Fig ure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown a Venetian blind including vertical tapes 1d, of conventional construction, between which are supported vertically spaced slats 12, which also are of wholly conventional construction. The slats have the usual transverse, closed slots 14 through which extends a lifting cord 16 in the usual manner.

All these components are conventional per se, and it is to be noted that it is an important feature of the present invention that conventional components such as those already described can be employed, while still obtaining the benefits of the construction.

It is only necessary, to carry out the invention, to modify the conventional cross tapes that are connected between the vertical tapes 10 for supporting individual slats. In accordance with the invention, the cross tapes 13 can be formed of a flexible plastic and having their ends 20 secured to the vertical tapes in any suitable manner.

In accordance with the present invention, incisions 2-5, 39 are formed into the substance of conventional plastic cross tapes 18, by a punch process or any other suitable means, said incisions 26, 39, being disposed so that there are at least two at either end of the cross tape, and being of suitable design so that fiaps 22, 28 are formed thereby. The free end of each said flap 22, 28 is disposed rnedially relative to the longitudinal axis of its cross tape 18, and the attached end of each flap is therefore necessarily disposed less medially than the free end thereof. The exact location of the flaps in relation to the longitudinal axis of the cross tape is dependent upon the predetermined angles of tilt desired for the slats, those flaps being disposed medially producing a steeper angle of tilt for their associated slat than flaps disposed toward the ends of the cross tape. The exact number of flaps required is dependent upon the predetermined variety in selection of degrees of tilt for the slats, however at least two flaps at either end of a cross tape as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 should be available so as to permit a choice between steep tilt and moderate tilt. For purposes of durability, the ends 32 of each incision 26, 39, should be rounded, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, in the process or" forming the incision.

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present in vention wherein the incision 26 is completely contained Within the edges of the cross tape. The flaps at one end of the cross tape are each equidistant from the middle of the cross tape, in its longitudinal dimension, as each of the corresponding flaps at the other end of the cross tape.

a This permits a given slat to be tilted to the same angles of inclination in either direction. The manufacturing process is simplified since it? is necessary only to center the cross tape between the vertical tapes, regardless'of which end of the cross tape is forward or which surface is uppermost. Since the incisions 26 are entirely within the edges of the cross tape there will be little or no tendency for the flaps to become entangled with dust cloths when the blinds are cleaned. i

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the incision 30 is made from the edge of the cross tape and extending inward, in a suitable direction to form flap 28.

In ordinary usage the slats are supported upon the cross tapes for conjoint'tilting, through the'rnedium of the usual tilting mechanism associated with the Venetian blind. However, whenever desired any selected slats may be tilted to any angle permitted by the available flaps, and in either direction as desired. The four-lower slats in Figure 1 and the two lower slats in Figure 2 are tilted relative to the remaining slats. I

The tilting of the slats is accomplished bygrasping each slat and lifting it off the cross tape, while pressure is exerted on the under surface 24 of a selected flap thereby raising the free end of the flap above the surface of the cross tape, after which one edge of the slat is engaged against the under surface 24 of the flap. The under surface 24 of the flap serves as an abutment for the slat, as a result of'which said slat will be supported against one of the vertical tapes 10, with its lower edge engaged against the under surface of the flap, in the angle defined between the under surface of the flap and the cross tape proper, as shown in Figure 2.

By reason of this arrangement it can be seen that any slat, at any location from the upper to the lower end of the blind, can be tilted to any angle desired as permitted by the available flaps, and in either direction. While only four flaps are shown in Figure 3 and in Figure 4 it is obvious that each cross tape may easily accommodate more than four flaps, thereby permitting a wider selection as to angle of tilt desired for a given slat. It is also equally obvious that, where several slats are tilted, it is not necessary that they all be tilted to'the same angie nor in the same direction, but maybe tilted in any of combinations permitted by the available flaps, both as to angle of tilt and direction of tilt.

It is an important characteristic of this invention that the only departure from entirely conventional Venetian blind construction is the need for incisions in the conventional plastic cross tapes.

It is believed apparentthat the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such'construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Venetian blind construction, the combination, with the vertical tapes and slats supported in vertically spaced relation between the vertical tapes, of cross tapes for supporting the slats connected at their opposite ends to the respective vertical tapes; and incisions'within the edges of said cross tapes forming multiple flaps, said flaps being disposed with free ends directed medially, relative to the longitudinal axisof the cross tapes, and with attached ends of flaps directed toward the nearest end of respective cross tape, the under surface of said flaps, when in elevated position, forming abutments for their associated slat, said abutments being disposed for supporting their associated slat in inclined positions, independently of the remaining slats of the blind, said flaps resuming their neutral positions and forming no projections above the level of their respective cross tape when not serving as abutments for their respective slat.

2. In a Venetian blind construction, the combination,

spaced relation between the vertical tapes, of cross tapes for supporting the slats connected at their opposite ends to the respective vertical tapes; and incisions within the edges of said cross tapes forming at least four flaps, said flaps being disposed with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of their respective cross tape, the free ends of said flaps being directed medially, relative to the longitudinal axis of said cross tape, the under surface of said flaps, when in elevated position, forming abutments for their associated slat, said abutments being disposed for supporting their associated slat in either direction and to any angle of tilt permitted bythe available flaps, independently of the remaining slats of the blind, said flaps resuming their neutral positions and forming no projections above the level of their respec-, tive cross tape when not serving as abutments for their respective slat. v at v 3. In a Venetian blind construction, the combination, with the vertical'tapesjandslats supported in vertically spaced relation between the vertical tapes, of cross tapes for supporting the slats connected at their opposite ends to the respective'vertical tapes; and incisions within the edges of said cross tapes forming at least four flaps, the free ends of said flaps being directed medially, relative to the longitudinal axis of their respective cross tape, said;

flaps being disposed in linear disposition throughout the length of the cross tape, there being an equal number'of flaps at each end of the cross tape, those flaps located in one half of the length of the cross tape being spaced an,

equal distance from the midpoint of the cross tape, rel'ative to its longitudinal axis, as the corresponding jflaps in the other half of the cross tape, the under surface of; flaps, when in elevated position, forming abutments'for their associated slat,'said abutments being disposed for I supporting their associated slat in inclined positions, in, either direction and to any angle of tilt permitted by the available flaps, independently of the remaining slats of the blind, said flaps resuming their neutral positions and' forming no projections above the level of 'their'respective.

cross tape when not serving as'abutments for their re spective slat.

4. In a Venetian blind construction, the combination,, with the vertical tapes and slats supported in vertically spaced relation between the vertical tapes, of cross tapes for supporting the slats'connected at their opposite ends to the respective vertical tapes; and incisions through at least one edge of each said cross tape of sutficient length,

to form flaps along at least one edge of the cross tape,

the free ends of said flaps disposed medially, relative to' e slat in inclined positions, in either direction and to any] angle of tilt permitted by the available flaps, independently of the remaining slats of the blind, said flapsresuming their neutral positions and forming noprojections above the level of their respective cross tape when not serving. as abutments for their respective slat;

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,794,500 Reichel 1111154, 1957 

